Luke 17:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, Jesus answers that it does not come with outward show that can be watched for.
What Does Luke 17:20 Mean?
The Pharisees expect the kingdom as a datable, visible arrival, and they want the schedule. Jesus answers the askers as much as the question: the kingdom does not come "with observation," with signs to be tracked the way watchers track the weather.
They were scanning the horizon while the kingdom stood on their doorstep. God's reign had entered the world quietly in Jesus — a manger, a carpenter teaching, lepers cleansed on back roads — and the sign-watchers missed it. The warning endures: those who reduce the kingdom to a calendar can stare straight at the King and see nothing. The kingdom asks for recognition, not calculation.
Luke 17:20 in the Original Language
parateresis (παρατήρησις), 'observation' -- close watching for visible signs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 17:20
What does Luke 17:20 mean?
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, Jesus answers that it does not come with outward show that can be watched for.